SUMMARY
Given that we were served up a shocking day at Old Brighton last week with the thermals required to keep the “man-gear” intact it was a shock to see the sun come out which only served to slow the start of my day down as I was required to remove about 8 layers of clothing so I no longer resembled the abominable snowman.

This week we were back at the wonderfully serene surrounds of Dairy Bell with its deep boundaries and sunny banks where all can enjoy the afternoon sunshine all the while entertaining the Old Scotch Collegians. They have a number of monikers  – Scotchies, Cardinals, Cards along with the Redcoats and Presbyters. This week they morphed into the Scotchies: the one’s who come running down the heather infested hills of the Highlands with their kilts and braided hair flapping madly as they wave their blood axes and war hammers all the while filling the air with sulphurous oaths drunk on the prospect of spilling blood and claiming a victory – a la William Wallace in Braveheart.

To the credit of the Scotchies, who started the day at 0-6 or to be all commercial TV about this “zip and six,” they were out of the blocks pretty quickly and really served up the game to us with some very quick movement of the ball where they initially smashed us in the middle and then sent the orb into the forward line which was filled with fleet footed fellows who were making life uncomfortable for the home team. If they are zip-and-six, they must have had some bad days as their ladder position belied their abilities and their application on what I saw.

It was acknowledged by the players at the end of the game that they had served up one of those days, but for long periods of time it was not one of those days, rather it was some pretty determined play by the redcoats as they worked much harder and were more willing to win the contested ball, more willing to work on their defensive acts, more willing to be running to be part of the action and more willing to change their season and get a win, whereas we were merely content to leave it to others. However there were some extenuating circumstances in many ways we were seeing Jez La Ragy and Leroy Williams for the 1st time in 08, and we are very much a work in progress with bringing the younger guys through from the less intense junior footy to the harder and crunchier environment of open age footy and the vagaries of terrible bounces and not quite so pristine skills. They are adjusting well, but maybe they will have so-called off days, but geez, I just wish they would stop needing a nap at half time given their relative youth … eerrr “yoof” and just mature quicker and settle the nerves of the on-looking older brigade.

Given it wasn’t great it was terrific to see the efforts of the rejuvenated Matt Fieldsend back from having his ankle rebuilt and running himself silly and shouting himself hoarse as he was perhaps one who had a 4 quarter game and it was really pleasing that his infectious enthusiasm finally wore off onto the players at about the 18 minute mark of the 3rd and we were able to get away from the persistent Scotchies to record a hard fought win.

In a game of not too many highlights for the winners, here are some:

• the afore-mentioned efforts of Matt Fieldo whose efforts were rewarded with a win,
• the fist of justice that Roaster employed off the half back to continuously spoil the high leaping forwards of Scotch and one of his tackles completely changed a forward thrust by the visitors where the ball spilled and we ran it down the other end and kicked steadier,
• the work of the defence led by Chopper, Pitch and Jarvy along with Sauce and the Trentinator  to fight their way back into the game and in the end win some of the balls that may have been either lost or even missed
• the persistence of the on-ballers of Tow Ball, Bowdo, Robbie Bonnici, Ding, “Georgie” and “Dooowee” to fight their way back into the game and assert some control over the opposition.
• A couple of the front and squares by the ferret brigade in the forward line were very good and resulted in goals, including one where Albus Dumbledore Roberts had jumped and pushed it forward into the waiting arms of the Bonnic, and then Greg Hesse kept his run going to get one back from Tom Molan and kick a sealer
• The return to playing of Jez who stated he had retired in Rd 6 to un-retire just in time for Rd 7, and seeing Leroy get on the paddock and show a glimpse with the lead and goal in the last,
• The telescopic arms of Benny Mannix taking a couple of plucks and then bringing the latest in the Mannix production line into the circle to learn the words to Cheers, Cheers and the baby being a little alarmed at the noise, but he didn’t cry, so it all bodes well for the future.

Next week it is Uni Blacks as we venture to the hallowed surrounds of Melbourne Uni with its picket fences and shocking lack of parking, but nevertheless it will be lovely to be surrounded by the reminders of our English based cultural history with the various halls and the gentle sounds of pages being turned as the students all swot up for the exams – it may even play in our favour as they are above us on the ladder and they may lose a couple to the swotfest!!  The game is significant as the winner will either strike a blow or it will not…. Think about that!!

I leave you with this from Monty Python - “my philosophy is like colour television – all there in black and white.” We need to keep winning because if we don’t we will probably lose, so get to the Uni and get there early after all parking is terrible and at a premium where we get to take on the 3rd placed Blacks, whom we hope to leave feeling slightly blue.